Heather Rae (Granddaughter)

Nothing prepares you for this disease. I remember a point in my life when I didn’t know what Alzheimer’s disease even was. I wasn’t prepared to watch my grandparents slowly forget my name. They forgot all the memories we shared and at one point, were unable to communicate with me all together. You begin to hope for and cling to the moments where you hear them mumble what sounds like your name or an “I love you”. I learned to just let the love between us speak when words no longer could. The time I spent with each of them, even when Alzheimer’s took over, was time I will always cherish and hold close to my heart.

For those of you who are the caregiver to someone with Alzheimer’s, just remember the love they have for you is safe from the mayhem in their mind because it lives in their heart. Love Remains. Always.

-Heather Rae Stafford